Sometimes you just need to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and go on an adventure. In Missouri, there are many easy weekend destinations which are just a whim away. One such trip was to Ste. Genevieve, which is part of the Route du Vin wine trail.
Leaving work early on Friday, we drove a few hours to where we were staying at Crown Country Lodging. We stayed at the Brewhouse Lodge, which is walking distance to Crown Valley Brewing & Distillery. After checking in, and checking out the brewing company next door, we went to Weingarten Vineyard where we were to have dinner. Weingarten Vineyard was a strange mix of Italian cuisine, German style décor with Rat Pack music playing in the background. The combination led to a distinctly American experience. The views of the vineyard were beautiful. The food was excellent and so was the wine.
The next day I decided that Michael and I were going to go on a hike at Hawn State Park. We did the White Oak Trail. It’s a 3.8-mile round trip trail that has views of sandstone rock outcrops and pine forests. After exhausting Michael on the hike, we hung out at Crown Valley Brewing & Distillery.
Our friend, Amanda, joined us the rest of they day as we visited a few of the wineries nearby. Our first stop was Twin Oaks Winery. It was a very busy winery, but we all were able to have a tasting. Michael, who is partial to the Vignoles grape, was very pleased
to have a glass to sip on. Amanda had the Shady Oak, which is a blend of Chambourcin and Norton grapes. I liked the Murphy’s Settlement, which is a red semi-sweet wine.
Afterwards we all went to Sands Creek Vineyard for dinner and live music. They weren’t doing tastings at the time. We ordered pizza and had a bottle of Chambourcin. The pizza and wine were wonderful, so wonderful that we ordered another pizza and got another bottle of wine, this time it was a Norton. We all had a merry time hanging out and listening to the music.
Sunday, our last day of our mini-trip, Michael and I had a few more wineries in the area we wanted to visit. Our first stop of the day was Crown Valley Winery, which is a very large complex. As you make your way to the tasting bar you walk through their production room. The tasting bar is quite ornate and large. The tastings are also very generous. We hung out for awhile enjoying the outside views and having some cheese and crackers.
We next ventured to Chaumette Vineyards for a late lunch. Michael had the Italian Sausage pasta. I had Almond and cornflake encrusted chicken tenders with homemade chips. We each had a glass of wine that was recommended to pair well with our dishes. Our final stop was Cave Vineyard. Aptly named for being right next to a natural cave. After a short walk from the tasting room we sat down and enjoyed our bottle of Vignoles in Saltpeter Cave.
Overall, the trip was relaxing and a way to get out of the same old routine. It was a trip that didn’t take much planning and was a fun get-away. It was also a trip that made us want to come back, but with a larger group of friends.
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